(1)

Union environmental, climate and relevant ▌energy policy and legislation have delivered substantial improvements to the state of the environment. However, major environmental and climate challenges remain, which if left unaddressed, will have significant negative consequences for the Union and the well-being of its citizens.

(2)

The Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), established by Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) for the period 2014 to 2020 is the latest in a series of Union programmes over 25 years which support the implementation of environmental and climate legislation and policy priorities. It was positively assessed in a recent mid-term evaluation (5) as being on track to be effective, efficient and relevant. The 2014-2020 LIFE Programme should therefore be continued with certain modifications identified in the mid-term evaluation and subsequent assessments. Accordingly, a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (the ‘ LIFE Programme’) should be established for the period starting 2021.

(3)

Pursuing the achievement of the Union's objectives and targets set by environmental, climate and relevant energy legislation, policy, plans and international commitments, the LIFE Programme should contribute in line with a just transition to the shift towards a  sustainable , circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate- neutral and - resilient economy, to the protection , restoration and improvement of the quality of the environment , including air, water and soil, and health, to halting and reversing biodiversity loss , including through supporting the implementation and management of the Natura2000 network and tackling the degradation of ecosystems , either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of those objectives in other policies. The LIFE Programme should also support the implementation of the General action programmes adopted in accordance with Article 192(3) TFEU, such as the 7th Environment Action Programme  (6).

(4)

The Union is committed to developing a comprehensive response to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development, which highlight the intrinsic connection between the management of natural resources to ensure their long-term availability, ecosystem services, their link to human health and sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth. In this spirit, the LIFE Programme should reflect the principles of solidarity, while making a material contribution to both economic development and social cohesion.

(4a)

With a view to promoting sustainable development, environmental and climate protection requirements should be integrated into the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities. Synergies and complementarity with other Union funding programmes should, therefore, be promoted, including by facilitating the funding of activities that complement strategic integrated projects and strategic nature projects and support the uptake and replication of solutions developed under the LIFE Programme. Coordination is required to prevent double funding. The Commission and Member States should take steps to prevent administrative overlap and burden on project beneficiaries, arising from reporting obligations from different financial instruments.

(5)

The LIFE Programme should contribute to sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Union environment, climate and relevant ▌energy legislation, strategies, plans and international commitments, in particular the United Nations 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development (7), the Convention on Biological Diversity (8) and the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (9) (‘Paris Agreement on Climate Change’),. and among others the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the ‘Aarhus Convention’), the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, the UN Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the UN Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants .

▌

(6a)

The Union attaches great importance to the long-term sustainability of the results of LIFE projects, and to the capacity to secure and maintain those results after project implementation, inter alia by project continuation, replication and/or transfer.

(7)

Complying with the Union's commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change requires the transformation of the Union into a sustainable, circular, energy efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and - resilient society. This in turn requires actions, with a special focus on sectors that contribute most to the current levels of greenhouse gas output and pollution, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as contributing to the implementation of the 2030 energy and climate policy framework and the Member States' Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans and to the implementation of the Union's mid-century and long-term climate and energy strategy, in line with the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement . The LIFE Programme should also include measures contributing to the implementation of the Union's climate adaptation policy to decrease vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change.

(7a)

Projects under the new Clean Energy Transition sub-programme of the LIFE Programme should focus on the creation of capacity building and diffusion of knowledge, skills, innovative techniques, methods and solutions for reaching the objectives of the Union legislation and policy on the transition to renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. These are typically coordination and support actions of high EU added-value, aiming to break market barriers that hamper the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy, typically engaging small and middle-size stakeholders, multiple actors including local and regional public authorities and non-profit organisations. These actions bring multiple co-benefits, such as tackling energy poverty, improved indoor air quality, reducing local pollutants thanks to energy efficiency improvements and increased distributed renewable energies, and contributing to positive local economic effects and more socially inclusive growth.

(8)

In order to contribute to the mitigation of climate change and the Union’s international commitments for decarbonisation, the transformation of the energy sector needs to be accelerated . Actions for capacity building supporting energy, efficiency and renewable energy funded until 2020 under Horizon 2020 (10), should be integrated in the new Clean Energy Transition sub-programme of the LIFE Programme since their objective is not to fund excellence and generate innovation, but to facilitate the uptake of already available technology for renewable energy and energy efficiency, that will contribute to climate mitigation. The LIFE Programme should involve all stakeholders and sectors involved in a clean energy transition . The inclusion of these capacity building activities into the LIFE Programme offers potential for synergies between the sub-programmes and increases the overall coherence of Union funding. Therefore, data should be collected and disseminated on the uptake of existing research and innovation solutions in the LIFE projects, including from the Horizon Europe programme and its predecessors.

(9)

The impact assessment for the amendment of the ▌Energy Efficiency Directive  (11) estimates that the delivery of the Union's 2030 energy targets will require additional investments of EUR 177 billion annually in the period 2021-2030. The biggest gaps relate to the investments in buildings decarbonisation (energy efficiency and small-scale renewable energy sources), where capital needs to be channelled towards projects of highly distributed nature. One of the objectives of the Clean Energy Transition sub-programme , which covers rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency, is to build capacity for the development and aggregation of such projects , thereby also helping to absorb funds from the European Structural and Investment Funds and catalyse investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, also using the financial instruments provided under InvestEU.

( 9a)

The LIFE programme is the only programme dedicated specifically to environment and climate action, and therefore plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of Union legislation and policies in those areas.

(10)

Synergies with Horizon Europe should facilitate that research and innovation needs to tackle environmental, climate and energy challenges within the EU are identified and established during Horizon Europe's strategic research and innovation planning process. The LIFE Programme should continue to act as a catalyst for implementing EU environment, climate and relevant energy policy and legislation, including by taking up and applying research and innovation results from Horizon Europe and help deploying them on a larger scale where it can help address environmental, climate or ▌energy transition issues. Horizon Europe's European Innovation Council can provide support to scale up and commercialise new breakthrough ideas that may result from the implementation of LIFE projects. Similarly, synergies with the Innovation Fund under the Emission Trading System should also be taken into account.

(11)

An action that has received a contribution from the LIFE Programme can also receive a contribution from any other Union programme , provided that the contributions do not cover the same costs. Actions that receive cumulative funding from different Union programmes should be audited only once, covering all involved programmes and their respective applicable rules.

(12)

The ▌most recent Commission Communication on the Environmental Implementation Review (EIR)  (12) indicates that significant progress is required to accelerate implementation of the Union environment acquis and enhance the integration and mainstreaming of environmental and climate objectives into other policies. The LIFE Programme should therefore act as a catalyst to tackle horizontal, systemic challenges as well as the root causes for implementation deficiencies as identified in the EIR and to achieve the required progress through developing, testing and replicating new approaches; supporting policy development, monitoring and review; improving governance on environmental, climate change and related energy transition matters, including through enhancing stakeholder involvement at all levels, capacity building, communication and awareness ; mobilising investments across Union investment programmes or other financial sources and supporting actions to overcome the various obstacles to the effective implementation of key plans required by environment legislation.

(13)

Halting and reversing biodiversity loss , the degradation of ecosystems , including in marine ecosystems, requires support for the development, implementation, enforcement and assessment of relevant Union legislation and policy, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (13), Council Directive 92/43/EEC (14) and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (15) and Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (16), in particular by developing the knowledge base for policy development and implementation and by developing, testing, demonstrating and applying best practices and solutions , such as effective management, on small scale or tailored to specific local, regional or national contexts, including integrated approaches for the implementation of the prioritised action frameworks prepared on the basis of Directive 92/43/EEC. The Union and the Member States should track their biodiversity-related expenditure to fulfil their reporting obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Requirements for tracking in other relevant Union legislation should also be met. Biodiversity-related Union spending will be tracked using a specific set of markers  (17).

(14)

Recent evaluations and assessments, including the mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the Fitness Check of Nature legislation, indicate that one of the main underlying causes for insufficient implementation of Union nature legislation and of the biodiversity strategy is the lack of adequate financing. The main Union funding instruments, including the [European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund], can make a significant contribution towards meeting those needs , on a complementary basis . The LIFE Programme can further improve the efficiency of such mainstreaming through strategic nature projects dedicated to catalysing the implementation of Union nature and biodiversity legislation and policy, including the actions set out in the Priority Action Frameworks developed in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC. The strategic nature projects should support programmes of actions in Member States for the mainstreaming of relevant nature and biodiversity objectives into other policies and financing programmes, thus ensuring that appropriate funds are mobilised for implementing these policies. Member States could decide within their Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy to use a certain share of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development allocation to leverage support for actions that complement the Strategic Nature Projects as defined under this Regulation.

(15)

The voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas (BEST) promotes the conservation of biodiversity, including marine biodiversity, and sustainable use of ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, in the Union's Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories. Through the BEST preparatory action adopted in 2011 and the subsequent BEST 2.0 Programme and BEST RUP project, BEST has helped to raise awareness for the ecological importance of the Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories and their key role in conserving global biodiversity. The Commission estimates that the need for financial support for projects on the ground in those territories is EUR 8 million per year . In their Ministerial Declarations in 2017 and 2018, Overseas Countries and Territories have expressed their appreciation for this small grant scheme for biodiversity. It is therefore appropriate for the LIFE Programme to finance small grants for biodiversity , including capacity building and catalytic actions, in both the Outermost Regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories.

(16)

Promoting the circular economy and resource efficiency requires a ▌shift in the way of designing, producing, consuming , repairing, reusing, recycling and disposing of materials and products, including plastics , focusing on the whole life cycle of products. The LIFE Programme should contribute to the transition to a circular economy model through financial support targeting a variety of actors (businesses, public authorities and consumers), in particular by applying, developing, and replicating best technology, practices and solutions tailored to specific local, regional or national contexts, including through integrated approaches for the application of the waste hierarchy and the implementation of waste management and prevention plans. Through supporting the implementation of Commission Communications of 16 January 2018 on ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ , action can be taken to address the problem of marine litter in particular.

(16a)

A high level of environmental protection is of fundamental importance for the health and well-being of Union citizens. The Programme should support the Union’s objective to produce and use chemicals in ways that lead to the minimisation of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, with a view to reaching the objective of a non-toxic environment in the EU. The Programme should also support activities to facilitate the implementation of Directive 2002/49/EC of the Parliament and of the Council  (18) in order to achieve noise levels that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human health.’

(17)

The Union's long-term objective for air policy is to achieve levels of air quality that do not cause significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment, while reinforcing the synergies between air quality improvements and greenhouse gas emission reduction . Public awareness about air pollution is high and citizens expect authorities to act , in particular in areas where the population and ecosystems are exposed to high levels of air pollutants . Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19) stresses the role Union funding can play in achieving clean air objectives. Therefore, the LIFE Programme should support projects, including strategic integrated projects, which have the potential to leverage public and private funds, to be showcases of good practice and catalysts for the implementation of air quality plans and legislation at local, regional, multi-regional, national and trans-national level.

(18)

Directive 2000/60/EC (20) established a framework for the protection of the Union’s surface waters, coastal waters, transitional waters and groundwater. The objectives of that Directive are supported by ▌better implementation and integration of water policy objectives into other policy areas. The LIFE Programme should therefore support projects which contribute to the effective implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC and of other relevant Union water legislation that contributes to achieving a good status of the Union’s water bodies through applying, developing and replicating best practices, as well as through mobilising complementary actions under other Union programmes or financial sources.

(19)

The protection and restoration of the marine environment is one of the overall aims of the Union's environment policy. The LIFE Programme should support the following: the management, conservation, restoration and monitoring of biodiversity and marine ecosystems in particular in Natura 2000 marine sites and the protection of species in accordance with the prioritised action frameworks developed pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC; the achievement of Good Environmental Status in line with the Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (21); the promotion of clean and healthy seas; the implementation of the Commission communication on strategy for plastic in a circular economy, to address the problem of lost fishing gear and marine litter in particular; and the promotion of the Union's involvement in international ocean governance which is essential for achieving the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to guarantee healthy oceans for future generations. The LIFE Programme's strategic integrated projects and strategic nature projects should include relevant actions aiming at the protection of the marine environment.

(20)

The improvement of governance on environmental, climate change and related ▌energy transition matters requires involvement of civil society by raising public awareness, including through a communication strategy that takes into account new media and social networks, consumer engagement, and broadening of stakeholder involvement at all levels , including non-governmental organisations, in consultation on and implementation of related policies. It is, therefore, appropriate that the Programme support a broad range of NGOs as well as networks of non-profit-making entities that pursue an aim which is of general Union interest, and that are primarily active in the field of environment or climate action, by awarding, in a competitive and transparent manner, operating grants, in order to help such NGOs, networks and entities to make effective contributions to Union policy, and to build up and strengthen their capacity to become more efficient partners.

(21)

Whilst improving governance at all levels should be a cross-cutting objective for all sub-programmes of the LIFE Programme, the LIFE Programme should support the development and implementation and enforcement of, and compliance with, the environment and climate acquis, in particular of the horizontal legislation on the environmental governance, including the legislation implementing the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (22).

(22)

The LIFE Programme should prepare and support market players for the shift towards a  sustainable , circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy by testing new business opportunities, upgrading professional skills, facilitating consumers' access to sustainable products and services, engaging and empowering influencers and testing novel methods to adapt the existing processes and business landscape. To support a broader market uptake of sustainable solutions, general public acceptance and consumer engagement should be promoted.

(22a)

The Programme is designed to support the demonstration of techniques, approaches and best practices that can be replicated and upscaled. Innovative solutions would contribute to the improvement of environmental performance and sustainability, in particular for the development of sustainable farming practices in the areas active in the fields of climate, water, soil, biodiversity and waste. Synergies with other programmes and policies, such as the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability and the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, should be emphasised in this regard.

(23)

At Union level, large investments in environmental and climate actions are primarily funded by major Union funding programmes (mainstreaming). It is therefore imperative to step up the mainstreaming efforts, to ensure sustainability, biodiversity and climate proofing of other Union funding programmes and the integration of sustainability safeguards in all Union instruments . In the context of their catalytic role, strategic integrated projects and strategic nature projects to be developed under the LIFE Programme should leverage financing opportunities under those funding programmes and other sources of funding such as national funds, and create synergies.

(23a)

The success of strategic nature projects and strategic integrated projects depends on close cooperation between national, regional and local authorities and the non-state actors affected by the Programme's objectives. The principles of transparency and disclosure regarding decisions concerning the development, implementation, assessment and monitoring of projects should, therefore, be applied, in particular in the case of mainstreaming or when multiple funding sources are involved.

(24)

Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in a coordinated and ambitious manner, in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the LIFE Programme will contribute to mainstream climate actions and to the achievement of an overall target of at least 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives over the MFF 2021-2027 period, and an annual target of 30 % as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027 . Actions under the LIFE Programme are expected to contribute 61 % of the overall financial envelope of the LIFE Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the LIFE Programme's preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes.

(25)

In the implementation of the LIFE Programme due consideration should be given to the strategy for outermost regions (23) in view of Article 349 TFEU and the specific needs and vulnerabilities of these regions. Union policies other than environmental, climate and relevant energy policies should also be taken into account.

(26)

In support of the implementation of the LIFE Programme, the Commission should collaborate with the LIFE Programme’s National Contact Points (NCP) network in order to stimulate cooperation aiming to improve and make NCP services across the EU more effective, as well as to increase the overall quality of proposals submitted , organise seminars and workshops, publish lists of projects funded under the LIFE Programme or undertake other activities , such as media campaigns, in order to better disseminate project results and to facilitate exchanges of experience, knowledge and best practices and the replication of project results across the Union , thus promoting cooperation and communication . Such activities should in particular target Member States with a low uptake of funds and should facilitate the communication and cooperation between project beneficiaries, applicants or stakeholders of completed and ongoing projects in the same field. It is essential that such communication and cooperation activities are addressed to regional and local authorities and stakeholders.

(26a)

Quality is the criterion governing the project evaluation and award process in the LIFE Programme. In order to facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the LIFE Programme across the Union and to promote high quality of project proposals, funding for technical assistance projects for the effective participation in the LIFE Programme should be made available. The Commission should pursue an effective, quality-based geographical coverage across the Union, including by supporting Member States to increase the quality of the projects through capacity building. Specification of low effective participation and eligible activities and award criteria to the LIFE Programme will be set out in the Multiannual Work Programme guided by participation and success rate of applicants from the respective Member States taking into account, among others, population and population density, total area of Natura 2000 sites for each Member State expressed as a proportion of the total area of Natura 2000 and proportion of a Member State's territory covered by Natura 2000 sites. Eligible activities should be of such nature that they aim at improving the quality of project applications.

(27)

The European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) and the European Union Forum of judges for the environment (EUFJE (24)) have been created to facilitate the collaboration between Member States and play a unique role in the enforcement of the Union environmental legislation. They provide a substantial contribution to reinforce consistency in the implementation and enforcement of Union environmental legislation across the Union, avoiding distortions of competition, contribute to improving the quality of the environmental inspection and the law enforcement mechanisms through a networking system at both, Union and Member State level, and provide exchange of information and experience at different administrative levels, as well as through training and in-depth discussions on environmental issues and enforcement aspects, including monitoring and permitting processes. In view of their contribution to the objectives of the LIFE Programme, it is appropriate to authorise the award of grants to IMPEL, ENPE and EUFJE without a call for proposals so as to continue to provide support to the activities of these associations. In addition, in other cases a call may not be required pursuant to the general requirements of the Financial Regulation, e.g. for bodies designated by the Member States and operating under their responsibility, where those Member States are identified as beneficiaries of a grant by a legislative act of the Union.

(28)

It is appropriate to lay down a financial envelope for the LIFE Programme which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (25), for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure.

(28a)

The maximum co-financing rates should be set at levels which are necessary to maintain the effective level of support provided by the Programme. In order to take into account the necessary adaptability that is needed to respond to the existing range of actions and entities, specific co-financing rates will facilitate certainty, while maintaining a degree flexibility that be afforded as per specific needs or requirements. The specific co-financing rates should always be subject to the established relevant maximum co-financing rates.

(29)

Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding.

(30)

In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council  (26) (the Financial Regulation), Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (27) , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/95 (28), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (29) and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (30), the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities , including fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union.

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office ( ‘the EPPO’ ) may investigate and prosecute offences against the Union's financial interests, provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council (31). In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests , to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the ▌EPPO in respect of those Member States participating in enhanced cooperation pursuant to Regulation (EU ) 2017/1939, and the European Court of Auditors (ECA), and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.

(31)

The types of financing and the methods of implementation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. As regards grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and scales of unit costs. The Commission should ensure that implementation is easy to understand, and should promote genuine simplification for project developers.

(32)

Where appropriate, the policy objectives of the LIFE Programme should be also addressed through financial instruments and budgetary guarantee under the ▌InvestEU, including with the allocated amount from the LIFE Programme as specified within the multiannual work programmes under the LIFE Programme .

(33)

Pursuant to Article 94 of Council Decision 2013/755/EU (32), entities established in overseas countries and territories are eligible for funding subject to the rules and objectives of the LIFE Programme and possible arrangements applicable to the Member State to which the relevant overseas country or territory is linked. The participation of these entities to this LIFE Programme should focus primarily on projects under sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity.

(34)

The Programme should be open to third countries in accordance with the agreements between the Union and those countries establishing the specific conditions for their participation.

(35)

Third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. Third countries may also participate on the basis of other legal instruments. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorizing officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.

(36)

Pursuant to points 22 and 23 of the Inter-institutional agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making, there is a need to evaluate the LIFE Programme on the basis of information collected through specific monitoring requirements, while avoiding overregulation and administrative burdens, in particular on Member States. These requirements, where appropriate, may include measurable indicators, as a basis for evaluating the effects of the LIFE Programme on the ground. The full impact of the LIFE Programme accrues through indirect, long-term and difficult-to-measure contributions towards achieving the full range of Union environment and climate objectives. For monitoring of the LIFE Programme, direct output indicators and tracking requirements set out in this Regulation should be complemented by aggregation of specific project level indicators to be described in multiannual work programmes or calls for proposals, inter alia regarding Natura 2000 and emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants.

(36a)

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation relating to the adoption of the multiannual work programmes, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council  (33) . If the Committee for the LIFE Programme does not deliver any opinion on a draft implementing act, the Commission should, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, not adopt the draft implementing act.

(37)

In order to ensure that support from and implementation of the Programme is consistent with the policies and priorities of the Union, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission , in order to amend the indicators or supplement this Regulation in respect of the indicators, and for the establishment of the monitoring and evaluation framework . It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(38)

Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely contributing to a high level of environmental protection and ambitious climate action with good governance and a multi-stakeholder approach sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Union environment, biodiversity, climate , circular economy, and relevant renewable energy and energy efficiency legislation, strategies, plans or international commitments cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of scale and effects of this Regulation, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(39)

Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 should therefore be repealed,